Deaf People & Sign Language
Sign language is a method of communicating information without the need to speak or hear sounds. There are numerous forms of sign language, in the modern world and developed throughout history, which allow deaf people to communicate effectively. In addition, sign language is a useful tool for communication in areas where speech or hearing are difficult or impossible, such as noisy working environments and underwater.
Other People Are Reading
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History
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Sign languages appear to have developed in all periods of history. In his middle period dialogue "Cratylus," for example, Plato refers to the use of hand signals and body language by deaf people for communication. Modern sign languages trace their roots back to Juan Pablo Bonet, who wrote the first book on educating deaf people using sign language, "Summary of the letters and the art of teaching speech to the mute" in 1620.
Function
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Sign language allows communication of information between two or more people without the need to be able to speak or hear. As a result, it is an effective means of communication between deaf people and also between hearing people in an environment where speech, or hearing, is difficult, impossible or simply not permitted.
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Features
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Sign language uses several methods of conveying information, including hand signals, facial expressions and body language. Not every method is employed to convey every piece of information, so it is possible to discuss both an experience and its effect at the same time. For example, a person using American Sign Language can discuss both travel plans and how the journey went; while in English one piece of information would have to follow the other.
Types
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There are many forms of sign language in use around the world and at various times in history. Each sign language, like its oral counterparts, has its own grammar and can be more or less intelligible to users of a different language. An international version of sign language (known as International Sign) exists for use at international events such as the Deaf Olympics.
Misconceptions
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According to the Open University, it is commonly believed that American Sign Language and British Sign Language are the same, or at least similar, because both countries speak English. In fact, American Sign Language is based on the old French Sign Language and neither ASL or BSL have any great relationship to spoken English.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit hand sign image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
